our roots

Thank you!!
Courtesy brings
forth a smile
By Brenda Wambua
I am
Sorry!
Excuse me!
PLEASE!!
“I have come for my assignment!”
“I want to see you.”
“You told me to see you today.”
These are just a few of the opening
statements faculty and staff hear when
a student knocks on the office door.
Introductions too are not part of the agenda
of the visit. It is not unusual to see that
puzzled look on the lecturer’s face as if to
ask: “Who are you and what assignment are
you talking about?” or “What did I tell you to
see me about?” It is not that the lecturer is
not interested in knowing his or her students
but with three or four classes of 40 or more
students who need to pick their assignments.
A good morning or good afternoon would do
well in acquainting the student with faculty or
staff but it rarely comes forth. It is surprising
that students do not seem to see anything
odd about using words such as,
“I want”, “Give me”, “You told me…”.
Sauntering into class 30 or 40 minutes
late is common place in institutions of
higher learning. What is shocking is the way
a student will walk in as if it is just in order,
interrupt the lecturer mid-sentence, no word
of apology or explanation, walk to the back
or to the front of the class (looking lost and
distracting every other student), drag a chair
and sit down comfortably. The shock on the
lecturer’s face is evident. It is not unusual to
see the same student, five minutes later, whip
out his phone and begin swiping as if that is
all what matters to him at the moment.
When it comes to writing formal emails,
the story is the same. Emails to staff and
lecturers are characterized by: no subject, no
salutation, sentences begin with small letters,
words are abbreviated, no introduction, poor
grammar, scanty details and much more.
It is even worse when the student writes
a text message. I think their assumption is
that as a lecturer you know each student by
name and telephone number. “Hae Madam/
Sir/Professor/Doctor”, “Pls excuse me from
class today,” or “Hey. I will not be in class
today. I am held up”, the text reads. Then
the questions begin to do their rounds in my
mind: who are you? Which class? Why not use
official language? Why not write an email (which
may just bear the same words, anyway)?
What am I on about? I am talking about
etiquette. I am talking about courtesy. Good
manners seem to have flown out the window,
landed in the garbage bin and got trashed.
According to Oxford Advanced Learners
Dictionary, etiquette is the customary code of
polite behaviour is society among members of
a particular community.
Etiquette is about polite behavior.
Politeness is definitely not walking into class
late and offering no apology. Politeness
requires that you excuse yourself to the
lecturer. In institutions of higher learning,
students are prepared for the market place.
No organisation gives room to its employees
to walk into the office at leisure and go on as
if nothing just happened. Such conduct could
earn one summary dismissal even before the
first salary is earned.
Email etiquette requires that a student
gets the email address right, gives the
message a subject, greets the recipient of the
message, writes out the messages according
the conventions of correct grammar giving
the necessary details and signs of clearly. A
response to such an email will be imminent.
Etiquette focuses on four short phrases:
“I am sorry!”, Please”, “Excuse me,” “Thanks”.
Making use of these short phrases will calm
some nerves. Whether written or spoken,
these four words have the power to melt
even a heart of stone. Use them at home, at
school, at work, in church and you will go far.
It makes a big difference when you get into
an office and say: “Good afternoon Sir. I am a
so and so, a student in your COM 415B class.
Could you kindly give me my assignment?”
Now that sounds like it. Instead of the puzzled
look, there will be a smile.
DaystarConnect 2015 • 65